What are HTTP status codes, and why are they important in RESTful APIs?

Short answer: HTTP status codes are 3-digit numbers returned by the server to indicate the result of a client request. They are important because they: Communicate success, failure, or redirection. Help clients handle responses consistently. Provide debugging and monitoring information.

Real-world example (ShopNest)

Creating an order is POST /api/orders → 201 with Location header. Fetching is GET /api/orders/{id} → 200 or 404.

Say this in the interview

1. Define — one clear sentence (the short answer above).
2. Example — relate it to a project like ShopNest or your real work.
3. Trade-off — when you would not use it.